People from all over South Central Missouri came to Lebanon tonight to learn how to get signatures for Medical Marijuana Legalization in Missouri. A crowd gather from Camden, Pulaski, Phelps, Texas and Laclede counties gathered to here Springfield NORML Executive Director Trish Bertrand explain how to gather signatures for the Show Me Cannabis/New Approach Missouri (SMC/NAM) petition drive.

Although the petition drive just started about two weeks ago, about 25 people tonight heard all about the petition to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri. “We have to pass it; our patients need it,” Bertrand said. “We had to compromise.”

The volunteers learned about what the SMC/NAM petition would do if it were enacted, and were told about the $40,000 that SMC had put into polling to find out exactly what the citizens of the state would approve of. Through their polling, they discovered that only 47% of voters in Missouri favored legalization of recreational drug use. According to Bertrand, the polling data is what was used to base the petition on, looking for a compromise in order to take the first step towards full legalization in Missouri.

When it came to the hot button issue of taxing medical marijuana, those in attendance did not seem to have a problem with the tax. Many were in agreement that the taxing would not only raise revenue for the state, but also would help to sway those residents hesitant to vote for legalization. “I was the only board member who fought against the taxes,” Bertrand added.

She also explained that there was more that they wanted to add to the petition, but the state chapters of the Chamber of Commerce was fighting them, especially in regards to prohibiting the testing for marijuana for job applicants and employees. As she put it, “The chamber has deep pockets.”

In the petition, it specifically makes legal the dispensing of medical marijuana to those who suffer from PTSD and dementia like symptoms. Plus, the taxes generated from the sale of medical marijuana in Missouri would go directly to fund veterans programs within the state, including upgrades and repairs to the state veterans homes. Plus the $25 marijuana card would be the cheapest in the nation and would help to go fund the Department of Health’s regulation and implementation of medical marijuana.

The volunteers were warned that the lawyer for NORML who drafted the petition, Brad Ketcher, stated that because of campaign finance violations by the rival MRCPA, that those who were carrying the petitions for SMC/NAM would not be able to also carry the MRCPA petition. The volunteers also would be prohibited from taking cash donations.

Future events are planned for Lebanon and Laclede County, with business owners being talked to about having petitions left at their place of business so that residents could be able to sign. Another petition and volunteer drive will be held tomorrow in Waynesville. They need to submit all the signatures of registered voters by May 6th, 2016.